Fastening device



Dec. 21, A1943. M. JQ MARTY :2,337,483v

FASTENING DEVICE Filed July 10, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

` @wf/17 /fazzyz Jaar@ Dec. 21, 1943. M. J. MARTYl ASTENING DEVICE y Filed July 10, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @Q i 4,4 W5S 227%@ Patented Dec.' 21, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT"OFFICE FAs'rENmG DEVICE Mathew J. Marty, Chicago, Ill.

Application July 10, 1942, Serial No. 450,388

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to a fastening device and more particularly to a fastening device for detachably securing two parts together. The invention is particularly adapted for use in detachably securing two plates or panel members together, for example, the cowlings of airplanes and other parts thereof.

The fastening device of my invention is of the class comprising a pair of fastening elements adapted to be interlocked by rotating one of the elements relative'to the other. Fasteners of this character have been long known in the art and have been extensively used in the construction of airplanes, particularly in connection with the cowlings thereof. However, so far as I am aware, the present known forms of fastening devices are. unsatisfactory, for several reasons. Most of the known devices now in use are of the type in which the fastening element carried by a fixed part of the airplane comprised a spring element which is permanently fixed to that part and which is adapted to coact with a rotatable element carried by a detachable part to yieldingly retain the parts together. erally formed with coils at the ends thereof and are connected to one of the partsby means of rivets extending through the end loop of each coil. The coiled ends vare provided to increase the resiliency of the spring, but since the ends of the spring are xed it nevertheless is flexed by opening and closing ofthe fastening device causing the spring to lose its resiliency and resulting in frequent breakage after it has been in use only a-short time. Removal and replacement 4of defective springs of this character is diicult and costly and hence unsatisfactory.

According to my present invention I proposeto provide a rotatable fastening element adapted to be associated with the detachable panel or plate comprising a shank yextending through an openingin the plate provided therefor and hav- These spring elements are gen ing an enlarged head at one end and a pin ex- Vtending transversely of the longitudinal axis of the shank at the other end thereof. Preferably, the metal surrounding the opening provided in the panel for the rotatable element is bevelled to correspond to the bevelled surface of the head so that the outer end thereof may be positioned to llie vsubstantially flush with the surface of the plate member. A second or non-rotatable fastening element of a character adapted to be engaged by the rotatable posed in a housing or carrier member which is suitably secured to the other plate or panel mem# element to be interlocked l therewith upon rotation thereof is preferably disber. The second fastening element is confined within the housing or carrier member against rotation but is free to move longitudinally of the axis of the shank of the rotatable element. A suitable spring element or other resilient means is also preferably disposed within the housing and confined therein against rotation, but it is not mechanically secured to any of the other elements of the fastening device nor to either of the parts to be secured together. It will be observed that with this construction that the housing, the second or non-rotatable fastening element, and the spring may be assembled as a unit for convenient ultimate assembly -to an airplane. When it is desired to secure the plate4 or panel members together the rotatable element is positioned so that the pin thereof engages cam surfaces formed on the non-rotatable fastening element to compress the spring and bias the plates together. Since the spring is simply confined and is not mechanically connected to any other part -it retains its resiliency and mechanical strength for a long period of time and may be eXed and deformed many times without breaking or losing its resiliency.

It is an object of my invention, therefore, to

' provide a fastening device of the character above A further object of my invention is to provide a fastening device of the character noted in which certain of the parts may be assembled at the place of manufacture for convenient shipping and ultimate assembly upon devices in which it is desired to detachably secure parts thereof together.

A further object is to provide a simple, sturdy and inexpensive fastening device of the character noted.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the detail description.

It will be understood that the invention is applicable for use in other instances than airplane cowlings, but it is particularly useful in this eld and hence it will be understood that the following description is only illustrative of one application of the invention. I i

Now, in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of constructing and operating a device in accordance with the teachings of my invention I shall disclose in conjunction vwith the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through the several parts of the fastening device of the present invention spaced apart and in disassembled relation and showing a pair of platemembers in section which are adapted to be secured together bythe fastening device herein disclosed; Y

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the rotatable fastening element of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a portion of one of the plate members with which the rotatable fastening element of Figure 2 is adapted to be associated;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a second plate member which is adapted to be detachably secured to 4the plate member of Figure 3 by the fastening device of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a bottom view of a spring element adapted to be associated with the second fasten- Ing element of the fastening means of my invention;

Figure 6 is a bottom view of a second or non-rotatable fastening element adapted to coact with the rotatable element of Figure 2;

Figure 'I is a detail sectional view through a.

pair of plate members and the detachable fastening means of 'the present invention in the interlocked position of the fastening elements;

Figure 8 is a view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 7, and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; l

Figure 9 is a side elevational view showing a pair of plate members in section to whichthe fastening device of the present invention has been applied, a portion of the housing of the lat-- ter being broken away to show the position of the non-rotatable fastening element in the open or unlocked position of the device;

Figure 10 is a view corresponding to Figure 9 but showing the fastening elements in their interlocked position;

Figure 11 is a side elevational view of a modied form of spring element which may be substituted in the device for the form of spring element vsliowninFisilreZi:

Figure 12 is a plan view of the spring means of Figure 11; and

Figure 13 is a detail sectional view taken on the line I3 -I3 of Figure 11, and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

In the several views of the drawings I have shown a pair of-plate members I5 and I8 which are adapted to be detachably secured together by the fastening means I1 of my present invention. For purposes of this disclosure the fastening means I1 will be described in conjunction with the cowling of an airplane, and it will be understood that the plate or panel I5 comprises or represents the'removable cowling and the plate member or panel I3 comprises a portion of the body of the airplane to which the cowling I5 is adapted to be removably attached. The fastening means I1 comprises a rotatable fastening element I8 having a shank portion I8 at one end of which an enlarged head 28 is formed with a screwdriver kerf 2I for receiving a screwdriver to rotate this element. A pin-22 extendstransversely of the longitudinal. axis ofthe shank portion I9 at the other end thereof and is provided with an intermediate serrated portion 23 and end annular portions 24. The serrated portion 23 fits in the cylindrical opening 25 formed in the end of the,

shank I3 opposite the head 2l and the teeth formed by the serrations 23 bite into the metal of 21 and then inserting the pin 22 as described.

Pin 22 is of greater length than the diameter of the hole 21 and retains the assembly of the fastening element I8 with panel I5. Preferably the plate I 5 is bevelled at 28 surrounding the opening 21 at an angle which corresponds to the 'angle of the annular bevelled surface of the head portion 20 so that the head portion is adapted to lie substantially flush with the outer surface of the plate or panel I5, in the` closed position of the fastener device, as will be clear from Figures 7, 9 and 10. A second or non-rotatable fastening element 30 comprises a plate member having an opening 3I for receiving the shank I9 of the rotatable fastening element I8 and a pair of diametrically opposed slots 32 extend into the plate 30 from the opening 3|. A pair of oppositely inclined cam surfaces 34 are formed on the edges of flange elements -35 extending normal to the plate member 30 defining the opening 3| and are providedwith stop portions 36 and recesses 31 adjacent the stop portions 38 at the high point of the cam surfaces for a purpose which will appear hereinafter. The

plate member 30 is .substantially elliptical when gtudinally into the plate 43. The second or nonrotatable fastening element 3I| and the spring element 43 are disposed in the housing 43 in the position shown in Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings and the lugs 41 formed integrally with the side walls of the housing are turned inwardly to-se'- cure the lspring and second or non-rotatable fastening element 30 in position within the' housing 40. A pair of tongue members 49 are formed in- 'tegrally with the housing and are provided with openings 50 through which rivets 5I extend therethrough and into openings 52 suitably formed in the plate'member vI8 and the rivets are 'then peened over'to secure the assembled unit to the plate or panel I3.

With the rotatable fastening element I8 assembled to` the plate I5 as described, and with the housing 40 including the non-rotatable fastening element 30 and the spring element 43 assembled therein and secured to the plate member I8, it will be seen that the plate members I5 and I 6 may be detachably secured together by inserting the shank portion I9 and pin 22 through the opening 55 of plate member I8, through the opening 45 and slots 45 of the spring element 43, and the opening 3l andslots 32 of the nonrotatable fastening element 30, and then rotating the fastening element I8 to cause the ends 24 of the pin 22 to ride up the cam surfaces 34 whereupon the spring 43 is compressed urging the plate I5 toward the plate I8 to bias them movement of the fastening element I8 beyond the interlocked position of the elements and the the shank Il to securely retain the pin 22 in po- 73 ends 24 rest in the recesses 31 to prevent retroascuas grade movement of the rotatable fastening ele'- y if desired, be interposed between the plate IB and housing or carrier III. The shim is of course -provided with suitable openings to permit insertion of the rotatable element I8 and to receive the rivets I.

In the assembled position of the fastening elements the rounded end portions 44 of the spring element 43 bear against the adjacent surface of the plate member I6 to bias the plate I5 toward the fixed plate I6. It will be observed that the fastening element 30 and the spring 43 -are restrained by the housing against rotation, and that this fastening element 30 may move axially of the longitudinal axis of the shank portion I9 of the rotatable fastening element IB to thereby compress the spring element 43. It will be observed,

therefore, that the non-rotatable fastening ele' ment 30 and the spring R3 are not mechanically secured to any of the parts but are movable within the housing 4I) in a direction axially of the axis of the rotatable elementl I 8. Referring to Figures 9 and 10, it -will be seenthat in Figure 9 the fastening elements are shown in their` disengaged position with the apertured plate member 30 seated on the base of the housing 4D and in Figure 10 the elements have been engaged so that the non-rotatable element has been moved off of the base of the housing compressing the spring 43 to bias the plates I5 and I6 together.

In Figures 11 through 13 I have shown a modied form of spring element l53 which comprises an elliptical loop of spring metal of circular crosssection. 'I'he spring loop 93' is formed with relatively flat end portions 44 which when substituted in the housing 40 act in much the same manner as the curved endportions It of the spring element 53 in the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figures 1 through 10.

While I have shown what I consider to be the preferred embodiments of lmy invention, it will be understood that various modifications and re-arrangements may be made therein without departing from the scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A fastening device for detachably securing two panels together comprising, a rotatable fastening element comprising a shank portion extending through an opening in one of said panels and having an enlarged substantially-fiat head at one end adapted to lie substantially flush with said one panel, and a pin extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of `said shank at the other end thereof, a housing fixed to the other of said panels, said housing and said other panel beingv apertured to receive said rotatable fastening element, a second fastening element disposed within said housing and comprising an apertured plate member having cam surfaces adapted to be engaged by said pin upon turning of said rotatable fastening element to interlock said fastening elements, said plate member being movable axially of ,said shank .within said housing and confined therein against rotational movement, and resil-v lient/means within said housing intermediate said second fastening element and said other an operating head at one end and a pin extendfil) panel adapted to' be compressed in the interl locked position of said fastening elements to bi'as said panels together.

2. A fastening device for detachably securing two parts together comprising, a rotatable `fastening element extending through an opening inone ofsaid parts comprising a shank portion having ing transversely of the longitudinal axis of said shank at the other end thereof, a housing fixed to the other of said parts, said housing and said other part being apertured to receive said rotatable fastening element, a second fastening element disposed within said housing and vcomprising an apertured plate member having cam surfaces adapted to be engaged by said pin upon turning of said rotatable fastening element to interlock said fastening elements, said plate member being movable longitudinally of said shank within said housing and confined -therein against rotational movement, and resilient means intermediate said second fastening element and said other part' confined within said housing and adapted to be compressed in the interlocked position of said fastening elements to bias said panels together.

' 3. A fastening device for detachably securing 'two parts together comprising, a rotatable fastening element associated with one of said parts, a housing adapted to be fixed to the other of said parts, a. second fastening element confined within said housing, said second fastening element and said housing being formed to prevent relative rotational movement therebetween said fastening elements being of a character to interlock with each other upon rotational movement of said rotatable element with respect to said second fastening element, and spring means disposed within said housing intermediate said second fastening element and said other part and confined therein for biasing said parts toward each other when said elements are interlocked.

v4. A fastening device for detachably securing two parts together comprising, a rotatable fastening element extending t-hrough an opening adapted to be engaged by said pin upon turning Y ofsaid rotatable fastening element to interlock said fastening elements, said plate member being movable longitudinally of said shank within said housing, said plate member and said housing being formed to prevent rotation of said second fastening element relative to said housing, and resilient means within said housing intermediate said second fastening element and said other part and adapted to be compressed in the interlocked position of said fastening element to bias said panels together, said cam surfaces having means for resisting retrograde movement of said rotatable element when disposed in interlocked position.

5. A fastening device'for detachably securing two parts together comprising, a rotatable fastening element extending through an opening in one of said parts comprising a shank portion having an operating head at one end and a pin extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of said shank at the other end thereof, a housing fixed to the other of said parts, said housing and said other part being apertured to receive said rotatable fastening element, a second fastening element disposed within said housing and comprising an apertured plate member having cam adapted to be'engaged by said pin upon turning of said rotatable fastening element to interlockl said fastening elements, said plate member being movable longitudinally of said shank within said housing, said plate member and said housing being formed to prevent rotation of said second fastening element relative to said housing, and resilient means disposed within said housing intermediate said second fastening element and said other part and adapted to be compressed in the interlocked position of said fastening elementv to bias said panels together, said cam surfaces having stops at the ends thereof for limiting turning movement of said rotatable element with respect to said plate member, and having recessed portions adjacent said stops for receiving said pin for resisting retrograde movement of said ,rotatable element when the latter is disposed in,

its interlocked positin.

`6. A fastening -device for detachably securing two parts together comprising a rotatable fastening element associated with one of said parts, a housing adapted to be fixed to the other of said parts, a second fastening element having a first portion within said housing -and a second portion disposed externally of said housing,

. said. rst portion of said second fastening element and said housing being formed to prevent rotation of said second fastening element relative to said other part, said rotatable fastening element and said second portion of said second fastening element being' of a character to interlock with each other upon rotational movement of said rotatable fastening element with respect to said second fastening element, and a bowed spring member disposed'within said housing andl coniined intermediate said second fastening element and said other part for urging said parts toward each other in the interlocked position of said fastening elements.

'1. The fastening device of claiml 6 characterized by' said bowed spring member having rounded end portions engaging the adjacent surface of the second part.

8. A fastening device for detaohably securing two parts together comprising, a rotatable fastening element associated with one of said parts, an assembly comprising a second fastening elemen't associated with said other part, said second fastening element being non-rotatable with respect to said other part and being movable toward and away from said other part, and resil- 20 ient means intermediate said second fastening 30 whereby in the interl'ocked position of said fastening elements said parts are urged toward each other.

MATHEW J. MARTY. 

